Aon’s Harmer heading home
Aon has confirmed its UK CEO Peter Harmer is returning to Australia in September to take up a new posting.
Mr Harmer ran the Australian operations from 2000-2007 before being sent to the UK to turn Aon’s struggling British arm around. It has been a tough assignment – late last year he axed some 700 UK positions – but he has earned accolades from the London insurance media for his leadership and communication.
While no specific details of his new role in Australia have been made available, an Aon source in Sydney told insuranceNEWS.com.au it will be “significant”.
In a statement issued in London late last week, Mr Harmer said progress made in implementing the restructuring strategy “has allowed me to return home a little sooner than originally planned”.
Mr Harmer has been with Aon for more than 20 years. Shortly after his transfer to London in 2007, he earned praise for his role in negotiating a settlement with the UK regulator the Financial Services Authority (FSA) after Aon was prosecuted for having poor controls against bribery and corruption.
The FSA fined Aon UK £5.25 million ($10.8 million), which was 30% less than the original amount. The authority also acknowledged Aon’s co-operation.
In April 2007 Mr Harmer also took up one of the major roles in the London insurance market, chairing the Lloyd’s Market Reform Group.
Chicago-based Aon Corporation President Greg Case last week acknowledged Mr Harmer’s “extraordinary leadership and efforts both in the UK and as a key player on the global Aon stage”.
Mr Harmer ran the Australian operations from 2000-2007 before being sent to the UK to turn Aon’s struggling British arm around. It has been a tough assignment – late last year he axed some 700 UK positions – but he has earned accolades from the London insurance media for his leadership and communication.
While no specific details of his new role in Australia have been made available, an Aon source in Sydney told insuranceNEWS.com.au it will be “significant”.
In a statement issued in London late last week, Mr Harmer said progress made in implementing the restructuring strategy “has allowed me to return home a little sooner than originally planned”.
Mr Harmer has been with Aon for more than 20 years. Shortly after his transfer to London in 2007, he earned praise for his role in negotiating a settlement with the UK regulator the Financial Services Authority (FSA) after Aon was prosecuted for having poor controls against bribery and corruption.
The FSA fined Aon UK £5.25 million ($10.8 million), which was 30% less than the original amount. The authority also acknowledged Aon’s co-operation.
In April 2007 Mr Harmer also took up one of the major roles in the London insurance market, chairing the Lloyd’s Market Reform Group.
Chicago-based Aon Corporation President Greg Case last week acknowledged Mr Harmer’s “extraordinary leadership and efforts both in the UK and as a key player on the global Aon stage”.